Athena Staik, Ph.D., LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Quality parent-child relationships are ones that are mutually enriching and promote the emotional, mental growth of children and parents alike. Parents often need skills to gain the cooperation and mutual respect of their children, to be more effecting correcting problem behaviors. They need to know how to create an environment for emotionally safe, positive and open communications -- which builds healthy relationships. Therapy can support parents to set firm limits yet avoid punitive tactics, resolving conflicts in ways that empower children to cooperate and parents to transform conflict into growth and trust, and motive children to willingly contribute and maximize potential.

Linda Ritchie, Ph.D.

Licensed Professional Counselor/Marriage & Family Therapist

Just like adults, sometimes a child or adolescent can benefit from therapy. We can help you identify the underlying cause of your child's problems and develop strategies to help you and your child to learn better, more effective ways of behaving and coping with frustrations, and solving problems. We have clinical psychologists and experienced therapists who specialize in working with children and adolescents.

Laurie Levine, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Working with young children is a unique skill. As young children are less able to verbalize their stressors than are older children and adults, I utilize non-verbal tools to help them both express their needs and help them to work on solutions. I use sand tray therapy in my office which gives children ownership over their "world" by using figurines and toys to play out their personal situations. I also use art therapy with young children; both free form and structured activities during the session. Playing games with a young child gives me a way to learn how they adapt to rules and limits as well as giving the child a way to experience some fun while in the midst of productive therapy

Christiana Shao, M.S., M.A., LGPC, NCC

Resident in Counseling

My approach to providing therapeutic care is strongly rooted in client centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Play techniques will be used as part of treatment and treatment often involve parents and/or caregivers. It is not uncommon to have session with the child alone as well as conjoint therapy withthe child and parents, siblings or families.

Christina Schultz, MA

Resident in Counseling, Supervised by Thomas Lamp, LPC

As a specialist in bereavement counseling, I am able to attend to the particular issues of childhood bereavement. I consider that it is important to create a safe space for bereaved children in conjunction and separate from their bereaved parents, since children usually respond to less verbal therapies. I employ art, music, and story telling exercises to help children process their grief.

Ashburn Psychological Services

Ashburn Psychological Services

Ashburn Psychological Services has child psychologists available to assess and treat children from 2 years of age through childhood. Our child psychologists have training in play therapy, behavioral therapy and parenting work. Typically, psychologists who work with younger children work with both the child and the parents when addressing a developmental, social/emotional or behavioral concerns. At times meetings with the parents and not the child is the preferred method. Developmental testing and neuropsychological testing is also available at Ashburn Psychological Services.

Michelle Kelley, LCSW

Licensed Counselor

At Girls Stand Strong we specialize in working with pre-teen and teen girls. Low self-esteem, friendship problems, dating and school stress can make a girl miserable (at home and at school). We also work with mothers of young children to support them through parenting and finding the balance in their lives. We would love to hear from you.

Kristin Rosenthal, MA, LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

Helping young children takes building a collaborative relationship with the parents, and offering parental guidance. We assess the developmental tasks and needs of that child, and sometimes suggest child-centered play therapy or play therapy. We also offer Sand-tray therapy, which allows children to show us their inner worlds in images and motion. EMDR can be helpful with building inner resources and over-coming traumatic experiences, such as medical procedures. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, we look at children’s problems in the context of their whole lives. Sometimes helping parents learn to play with and understand the meaning of their children’s actions is the magic.